Southend

GP vows to halt blood plan

A DOCTOR is so passionate about blood testing leaving Essex he has vowed to stand in front of a van taking samples elsewhere.

Westcliff GP Dr Marimuthu Velmurugan, known as Dr Vel, has joined an ever increasing number of health experts who are angry at the decision to move analysis of blood and other pathology samples to Bedford.

NHS Midlands and East have named Bedford and a consortium of other hospitals as its preferred choice after a bidding process which saw both Basildon and Southend hospitals lose out.

Dr Vel, who is also a Southend councillor, said: “This is most outrageous. It is action taken by a top down administration by any Tom, Dick and Harry at the SHA (strategic health authority) who haven’t got a clue.

“I’m definitely supporting the Echo’s campaign.

“If I have a patient who needs a blood test becuase I want to know if she has a blood clot rather than just flu or a bruise I want that done locally as it’s done within two hours and then I have results and can take action.

“I don’t want to see it being driven two hours away. I will stand in front of the van and they can run me over before I see any blood leave this town.”

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Dr Rana Sharma, Practice manager at Matching Green surgery, Basildon, said she was opposed to the plans.

”I think all GPs are opposed as it takes away a local service for patients. This process is far too lengthy. The doctors aren’t happy .“

Dr Haroon Siddique, of Southend Medical Centre, said: “We remain concerned as GPs but we do feel a bit more reassured that the CCG is reviewing and carefully examining the situation to make sure the planned move will be robust and safe for our patients.”

Dr Vel added: “There has been no consideration to people’s plight, this amounts to money. It has been done without consultation with GPs and is just not right.”

The ECHO is driving forward our campaign to keep blood testing local with the launch of a paper version of the petition.

We have listened to readers’ concerns about people with no access to the internet and not being able to add their support to the campaign which has attracted almost 2,000 online signatures.

The plan affects what health chiefs call non urgent pathology tests however some of the patients we’ve spoken to have had their lives saved by a fast turnaround of tests screened locally.

Barbara Williams, 73, was seen by her GP in Hockley after suffering with a stomach bug for several days.

She was asked to have a blood test to check for anything underlying. Her sample taken at 12pm was analysed that afternoon at Southend and by 6.30pm the doctor contacted her at home to go to hospital urgently.

Her husband Nick, 71, said: "The doctor rang us saying go straight to hospital he had the results and my wife needed urgent treatment. Her kidneys were failing."

Had the test been taken after the changes come in they would have been put in a van and driven up to Bedford. Mrs Williams made a full recovery.

Mr Williams, of Waxwell Road, Hullbridge, added: "It’s important people sign the petition. You never know when a test is urgent until its done and the results are back.”

The Echo’s online e-petition can be signed at http://epetitions.direct.gov.uk/petitions/43260

If the samples are to go to Bedford, who will take the blood?
The hospital based service is run by the local labs who will no longer be doing the tests. Can you imagine the response if they are asked to take the samples and then send them I to Bedford for testing!
I don't think so.
Stop this nonsense now!

If the samples are to go to Bedford, who will take the blood?
The hospital based service is run by the local labs who will no longer be doing the tests. Can you imagine the response if they are asked to take the samples and then send them I to Bedford for testing!
I don't think so.
Stop this nonsense now!Bloodtestguy

Iamcross wrote:
I would like to help. I will stand outside the hospital asking people to sign. Please let us that want to help know what we can do.

Sign the online petition, above, if enough people do that it should be a good start.
And there is nothing to stop you standing outside Southend Hospital with a board and a petition, there are always plenty of people going in and out. l would imagine half the hospital would want to sign.

[quote][p][bold]Iamcross[/bold] wrote:
I would like to help. I will stand outside the hospital asking people to sign. Please let us that want to help know what we can do.[/p][/quote]Sign the online petition, above, if enough people do that it should be a good start.
And there is nothing to stop you standing outside Southend Hospital with a board and a petition, there are always plenty of people going in and out. l would imagine half the hospital would want to sign.Almeda11

fletch12107 wrote:
Is this bloke paying the Echo to have his stories published?

What a strange comment! Why do you think that? lt`s obvious the Echo is as passionate about this as the rest of us and wants to give publicity to this mad idea of sending vlood all the way to Bedford, totally ridiculous idea!
Good on Dr Vell, and others who have the courage of their convictions.

[quote][p][bold]fletch12107[/bold] wrote:
Is this bloke paying the Echo to have his stories published?[/p][/quote]What a strange comment! Why do you think that? lt`s obvious the Echo is as passionate about this as the rest of us and wants to give publicity to this mad idea of sending vlood all the way to Bedford, totally ridiculous idea!
Good on Dr Vell, and others who have the courage of their convictions.Almeda11

fletch12107 wrote:
Is this bloke paying the Echo to have his stories published?

What a strange comment! Why do you think that? lt`s obvious the Echo is as passionate about this as the rest of us and wants to give publicity to this mad idea of sending vlood all the way to Bedford, totally ridiculous idea!
Good on Dr Vell, and others who have the courage of their convictions.

I don't think it is strange at all. This man as a councillor gets put on committees to make up the numbers and when he drops out he contacts the Echo and gives no reason as to why but likes to see his picture on the pages. The latest was the possible closure of Priory and Delaware House were he was on the first committee but dropped out. He paid for a full page ad in another paper and it wont be long before he drops away from this campaign. He is an attention seeking person with his own ego as priority.

[quote][p][bold]Almeda11[/bold] wrote:
[quote][p][bold]fletch12107[/bold] wrote:
Is this bloke paying the Echo to have his stories published?[/p][/quote]What a strange comment! Why do you think that? lt`s obvious the Echo is as passionate about this as the rest of us and wants to give publicity to this mad idea of sending vlood all the way to Bedford, totally ridiculous idea!
Good on Dr Vell, and others who have the courage of their convictions.[/p][/quote]I don't think it is strange at all. This man as a councillor gets put on committees to make up the numbers and when he drops out he contacts the Echo and gives no reason as to why but likes to see his picture on the pages. The latest was the possible closure of Priory and Delaware House were he was on the first committee but dropped out. He paid for a full page ad in another paper and it wont be long before he drops away from this campaign. He is an attention seeking person with his own ego as priority.fletch12107

fletch12107 wrote: Is this bloke paying the Echo to have his stories published?

What a strange comment! Why do you think that? lt`s obvious the Echo is as passionate about this as the rest of us and wants to give publicity to this mad idea of sending vlood all the way to Bedford, totally ridiculous idea! Good on Dr Vell, and others who have the courage of their convictions.

I don't think it is strange at all. This man as a councillor gets put on committees to make up the numbers and when he drops out he contacts the Echo and gives no reason as to why but likes to see his picture on the pages. The latest was the possible closure of Priory and Delaware House were he was on the first committee but dropped out. He paid for a full page ad in another paper and it wont be long before he drops away from this campaign. He is an attention seeking person with his own ego as priority.

This is NOT an ad, therefore a completely different scenario!

And, as a busy doctor l`m sure he has other things on his mind than just " getting his picture" in the paper, that`s YOUR belief only.

And the Echo WANTS to highlight the madness of this idea of sending blood all the way to Bedford, why else would they put an online petition on their page?

[quote][p][bold]fletch12107[/bold] wrote:
[quote][p][bold]Almeda11[/bold] wrote: [quote][p][bold]fletch12107[/bold] wrote: Is this bloke paying the Echo to have his stories published?[/p][/quote]What a strange comment! Why do you think that? lt`s obvious the Echo is as passionate about this as the rest of us and wants to give publicity to this mad idea of sending vlood all the way to Bedford, totally ridiculous idea! Good on Dr Vell, and others who have the courage of their convictions.[/p][/quote]I don't think it is strange at all. This man as a councillor gets put on committees to make up the numbers and when he drops out he contacts the Echo and gives no reason as to why but likes to see his picture on the pages. The latest was the possible closure of Priory and Delaware House were he was on the first committee but dropped out. He paid for a full page ad in another paper and it wont be long before he drops away from this campaign. He is an attention seeking person with his own ego as priority.[/p][/quote]This is NOT an ad, therefore a completely different scenario!
And, as a busy doctor l`m sure he has other things on his mind than just " getting his picture" in the paper, that`s YOUR belief only.
And the Echo WANTS to highlight the madness of this idea of sending blood all the way to Bedford, why else would they put an online petition on their page?Almeda11

It is great to see these GP's fighting to keep the service, as we see there are no comments from Southend GP's and as Dr Husslebee a Hadleigh GP appears to be the lead on this project, are we surprised Southend GP's have remained quiet?

It is great to see these GP's fighting to keep the service, as we see there are no comments from Southend GP's and as Dr Husslebee a Hadleigh GP appears to be the lead on this project, are we surprised Southend GP's have remained quiet?runwellian

It's a shame that more GPs in the area haven't made a stand about this, though when I queried it with my GP sometime last year, she knew nothing of it.
I'm in a different area, and there's still uncertainity about when it's going to happen - the longer it takes, the more the set up is going to cost, therefore more is going to have to be recuperated somehow, for a contract that is only going to be for a few years before it's out for bid again!
There were a lot of complications when Serco got in with Guys and St Thomas's and Kings.
What annoys me is the thought that yet again, money is being put ahead of the concern of patients by those up top who have probably never set foot in a pathology lab!

It's a shame that more GPs in the area haven't made a stand about this, though when I queried it with my GP sometime last year, she knew nothing of it.
I'm in a different area, and there's still uncertainity about when it's going to happen - the longer it takes, the more the set up is going to cost, therefore more is going to have to be recuperated somehow, for a contract that is only going to be for a few years before it's out for bid again!
There were a lot of complications when Serco got in with Guys and St Thomas's and Kings.
What annoys me is the thought that yet again, money is being put ahead of the concern of patients by those up top who have probably never set foot in a pathology lab!Ellushion